Unsung : The Sylvers!

[marv2]

For those who haven't seen it, here is the full episode of Unsung featuring the Sylvers. This is one of the best episodes in my opinion. Amazing family with a rather amazing story:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx1wNmwdWvQ

[soulfan]

This was a great episode. Edmund Sylvers used to date Freda Payne, does anyone know why they broke up?

[glencro]

I agree it was a very good story and sad story at the same time. I was a big Sylvers fan. Angie along with Joni & Kathy Sledge were my childhood crushes [[I must have had a thing for girls with braces now that I think about it lol). The group had a lot of talent and to think if Leon had worked some of those SOLAR hits on them. WOW!!! Really greatful for TV-1 providing us with these great shows.

[Teeski]

Charmaine, Syria [[Edmund's daughter), Patricia, Angelia​, Leon, Olympia, James and Tyava [[Olympia's daughter)


http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/268142_249078455103652_100000044990272_1107185_470 6704_n.jpg

[marv2]

Charmaine, Syria [[Edmund's daughter), Patricia, Angelia​, Leon, Olympia, James and Tyava [[Olympia's daughter)


http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/268142_249078455103652_100000044990272_1107185_470 6704_n.jpg

That is a great picture. After hearing their background story, I have a whole new appreciation for the Sylvers. A very real, down to Earth family........that made it!

[uptight]

What a pretty family picture? I had to watch all of the outtake video clips related to the taping of this documentary on youtube. Really nice harmonies.

[Teeski]

Olympia was absolutely gorgeous , considering what she's been through I'm happy she's still alive.


Pat, Charmaine, Olympia and Angie.
http://bowlingtrophy.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/sylvers05.jpg



The three little boys in the front row are Foster, Michael [[Olympia's son) and the youngest Sylvers sibling Christopher.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/251764_196235953762905_100001295057636_445615_1948 497_n.jpg



Olympia's son Michael and her youngest brother Christopher look to be around the same age.
Chistopher is sitting on Angie's knee. Michael is standing in front of Foster.


http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185377_195977167122117_100001295057636_445254_5673 108_n.jpg



http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/183906_196233860429781_100001295057636_445608_2924 179_n.jpg

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/116777963.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF87892140FEB0FF7845C57D2BF2445954329617 8D0607F1DBF2E312C5AAE25CCA0E64A9


http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/267253_10150257067376778_554521777_7557941_6526746 _n.jpg

[marv2]

Very nice pictures. Thanks Teeski!

I never noticed until now but Pat Sylvers looks and sounds so very much like CeCe Winans. Their speaking voices are almost identical.

[soulfan]

Wow, just read that Edmund Sylvers doesn't have a tombstone over his burial because his family couldn't afford one and I guess none of his 11 kids or their mommas would chip in to buy one. So they have a bunny rabbit over his burial site. I guess him and Freda Payne[[or any other girlfriend) didn't end on good terms because it's been a few years and noone has taken care of this.

[marv2]

Wow, just read that Edmund Sylvers doesn't have a tombstone over his burial because his family couldn't afford one and I guess none of his 11 kids or their mommas would chip in to buy one. So they have a bunny rabbit over his burial site. I guess him and Freda Payne[[or any other girlfriend) didn't end on good terms because it's been a few years and noone has taken care of this.

I saw that too, the grave. BTW, I believe he and Freda were only together for like a year.

[Teeski]

According to the Find-A-Grave website this is Edmund's gravesite.:[[


http://image2.findagrave.com/photos/2007/118/8513558_117790013249.jpg

[splanky]

That was one of the best Unsungs I've seen so far though I wished they've had made
more futher mention of their masterpiece Wish That I Could Talk To You. That song hit me like a ton of bricks when it first came out and still makes me turn up my radio whenever I hear it. Anyway, I found out quite a few things I didn't know about the family, for instance I never knew there was a sibling younger than Foster. Olympia's
tragic life I'd heard about before but I never was certain how much was fact or hearsay.
I had at least one friend and a relative who were raped and I do know it changes a person permanently. So sad. Still, like the Ohio Players one I enjoyed this one.
As far as that picture being Edmund's actual gravesite I'll say I don't trust it. From
what I understand Find A Grave is like wikipedia in that anyone can edit it without
verifying as fact the information. I need Actual Proof.....

[stephanie]

Splanky I felt the same way you do about thats song, I Wish that I could Talk to You IMO should have been a standard like
Ooh Child by the Five Stairsteps. The beginning of that song and the hook, and the harmonies is magic and as a matter of fact it remains to be my favorite song by the Sylvers. Great Unsung! Its answered a lot of questions and the manager getting 50 percent! Oh well.

[splanky]

You made an excellent point, stephanie. Ooh Child has been covered many times, I have or have heard versions by Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson, New Birth and others that I know I've forgotten for the moment but I've never heard anyone else
do I Wish...Has anyone else?...

[smark21]

You made an excellent point, stephanie. Ooh Child has been covered many times, I have or have heard versions by Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson, New Birth and others that I know I've forgotten for the moment but I've never heard anyone else
do I Wish...Has anyone else?...

Mary Wilson recorded Oooh Child in the late 80's.

[splanky]

Actually, I was asking if anyone else had covered I Wish That I Could Talk To You...

[nosey]

Marv, I agree with you regarding Pat sounding like CeCe. There was something familiar about her voice and couldn't put a finger on it. I enjoyed their Unsung immensely but must confess that I never listened to their music. The 80s music for the most part is a blur to me as I was busy chasing after young children at that time.

[ladonna]

I hate the 80s stuff; even Miss Ross's. It all sounds so dated now. It is interesting, the classic Motown stuff never sounds dated.

That is a damned shame about Edmund's grave marker! Does anyone know how to contact someone that could see that his grave site received a marker? Maybe fans could chip in and make it happen?

[glencro]

WOW Marv, you took the words out of my mouth. I grew up in the same church with the Winans family and I thought the exact same thing regarding Pat looking and sounding liek CeCe. I did read that Pat is a minister too.

Very nice pictures. Thanks Teeski!

I never noticed until now but Pat Sylvers looks and sounds so very much like CeCe Winans. Their speaking voices are almost identical.

[glencro]

I saw that too, the grave. BTW, I believe he and Freda were only together for like a year.

Freda did attend his funeral though. Several years ago there was a Sylvers yahoo group and the moderator actually attended the funeral and posted photos

[marv2]

WOW Marv, you took the words out of my mouth. I grew up in the same church with the Winans family and I thought the exact same thing regarding Pat looking and sounding liek CeCe. I did read that Pat is a minister too.

Glencro, doesn't she though? They could be sisters! You're from Detroit? I didn't know that. Any chance you've been to their brothers church?

[marv2]

Marv, I agree with you regarding Pat sounding like CeCe. There was something familiar about her voice and couldn't put a finger on it. I enjoyed their Unsung immensely but must confess that I never listened to their music. The 80s music for the most part is a blur to me as I was busy chasing after young children at that time.

Nosey, I watched the episode twice [[ it really is one of the very best ones so far) and kept thinking "Pat sure does remind me someone else......" then it clicked, CeeCee! Same facial features[[ to me) and the voices are so very similar. I listened to the Sylvers growing up mostly on the radio. By the time they had the hits "Boogie Fever", "Hot Line" and "High School Dance" they were established with me as a part of the soundtrack of that era of my life.

[glencro]

Glencro, doesn't she though? They could be sisters! You're from Detroit? I didn't know that. Any chance you've been to their brothers church?

Born and raised in the D. Younger than BeBe & CeCe and older than Angie & Debbie. I've been to Marvin Winans' church several times. In fact, I was even visting when he first started in a hotel room in the late 80's. Now he has aound 1,500 plus members. IMO, the best church choir in Detroit is there.

[glencro]

Went to a friend's bday celebration the other day and there were 7 of us. Three of us in our 40's and the other 4 in their 30's. We were talking about UNSUNG and I brought up The Sylvers. I could not believe that only one other person at the table had heard of them, I'm still apalled especially at the other 40 something year old. She said that she thought "Boogie Fever" & "Hot Line" were the Jacksons. They were always on tv growing up and stayed on the cover of RIGHT ON!!! By the way, one of my favs by them is "Don't Stop, Get Off". Was such a funky bass line.

[ladonna]

The Sylvers: [[Theme from Mahogany) Do You Know Where You're Going To?





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtNjzVDN47s